6 July 2011

Vintage Copenhagen Cycle Chic

If there's one thing nicer than riding a bicycle, it's doing with someone you fancy.
The shot is from the Royal Libary in Copenhagen and their archives and was taken by photographer Sven Türck (1897-1954). There's no date on it, but by the looks of the cars, we're probably in the 1930's.

Apart from the fact that this street - Strøget - is now happily a pedestrian street, nice to see that little has changed.

By the looks of the cars? By the looks of the dresses, surely, and in particular the berets glued to the sides of their heads. Early 1930s. See also the very comfortable but ridiculously wide trousers. My parents looked that way, and they were married in 1937.

As for the smooth road surface, there is a heap of sand on the left. Could it be that the photo was arranged, i.e. posed for, and that the street was covered with a thin layer of sand for contrast? The two pairs of cyclists look like they're posing for a fashion shoot.

Great photo and the people on the bikes look so stylish . You just can't look that cool on a bike with 21 gears leaning over the handlebars. These bikes are the transport version of the little black cocktail dress, always in fashion.